USE OF MAY MEANING & EXAMPES

May is a modal verb which has different uses in English grammar like whenever we are not sure about something or we express possibility so we use May. It’s also used for polite request or permission, and also use for expressing a wish, and use for future prediction etc. For the past, we use Modal Verb Might.


Formula

Formula: Subject + May + Verb 1st(form) + Object

May + Verb

1stUse of May.

  • Ali may be in his office. -Possibility
  • May you live long. -Expressing a wish
  • May I come in? -Polite Permission
  • Formula: Subject + May + Verb 1st(form) + Object

    More Examples

    Here are some more Modal Verb May meaning and examples.

    For Polite Request / Permission

    • May I join you?
    • May I use your laptop?
    • May I go outside?

For Possibility

  • He may be in his office.
  • It may rain today.
  • Alina may get good marks.

For Wishes

  • May you live long.
  • May you live happily.
  • May he get well soon.

For Prediction

  • I may go Germany.
  • It may rain today.
  • She may get the first position.

For Possibility (Running Action)

  • He may be sleeping right now.
  • Ali may be driving right now.
  • Students may be taking a class.

Note: For negative sentences, we mostly use Modal verb Might.

MAY HAVE

The Use of May have has the same sense which the modal verb May gives but we use it for Past Sentences.


Formula

Formula: Subject + May Have + Verb 3rd(form) + Object

May Have + Verb

3rdWe use it for 50% chances for the Past.

  • He may have gone school.
  • They may have given money.
  • Ali may have played well.
Formula: Subject + May Have + Verb 3rd(form) + Object

More Examples

Here are some more Modal Verb May have meaning & examples.

Examples

  • He may have given a presentation.
  • Ali may have purchased car.
  • Alina may have cooked biryani.
  • They may have played cricket.

  • He may not have given a presentation.
  • Alina may not have cooked biryani.

  • May he have given a presentation?
  • May Alina have cooked biryani?

  • May he not have given a presentation?
  • May Alina not have cooked biryani?

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